Rock Musical “Streetkids” Spotlights Homeless LGBT Youth

The out writer and composer has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to complete Streetkids, an LGBT-themed musical that aspires to “challenge minds and open hearts.”

Elegance Bratton

“It’s a rock opera intended for young adults,” he writes in a HuffPost Queer Voices essay. “The show delves into methods of survival, love and loss, including family dynamics.”

The musical revolves around LGBT homeless youth and their friends in New York City, but Motley has chosen to focus on trans youth of color. “Often forgotten, this segment of the population deserves a platform,” he says. “I aimed to create a character people could bond with and care about. I spent countless hours reading about my trans sisters, their lives, and unfortunately, their too-many deaths.”

Courtesy Alan Motley

He also plans to interview trans youth of color as he continues to develop the show. “Their input will ensure the characters are authentic and memorable. I want people to connect so deeply with them that they’ll mourn if a character’s life ends.”

Motley anticipates that Streetkids, which will be workshopped in Seattle, will have its first reading next year and a full production by 2020. He tells NewNowNext that he hopes the show, which he started back in high school as an update of Oliver!, “will be the next Rent.”